OKLAHOMA CITY –Oklahoma City University blasted Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 16-2 on Wednesday at Ann Lacy Stadium in the NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round Oklahoma City Bracket.
Every starter in the lineup collected a hit for the Stars, who as a team knocked out 17 hits on the day. Third-ranked Oklahoma City (57-6) clinched its 32nd NAIA Softball World Series appearance with the victory.
OCU won the NAIA Championship Opening Round Oklahoma City Bracket for the sixth time in seven years. Oklahoma City owns national crowns won in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2016 and 2017. The World Series runs May 23-29 in Springfield, Mo.
Jaden Shores collected the victory, moving to 29-4 on the season. Shores, a junior from Blanchard, Okla., ran her career record to 57-6. Shores struck out one and allowed two runs on four hits in five innings.
Kennedy Jackson scored the first run of the game when 16th-ranked Olivet Nazarene dropped a fly ball. Julianne Abeloe drove in Brittany Perez in the first to give the Stars an early 2-0 lead.
In the second, Oklahoma City rallied for eight runs on five hits. Jackson and Jaci Smith scored on a Perez single, then Morgan McCallum doubled to right-center knocking in Baileigh Loux and Perez. Abeloe drove in McCallum, then scored on a Bailey Whitmore single. Shelby Riggs cleared the bases with a double off the top of the wall in left extending OCU's lead to 10-0.
Loux scored on an error, then Zucchiatti drove in McCallum and Abeloe scored on a Whitmore single in the third.
Oklahoma City added three more runs in the fifth to stretch to a 16-0 advantage. Zucchiatti drove in McCallum, Riggs walked with the bases load forcing home Abeloe and Smith was hit by the pitch allowing Zucchiatti to score.
Olivet Nazarene scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth on three straight doubles by Miranda Southall, Felicia Wacasey and MaKenna Emerson.
Abeloe, a senior from Santa Paula, Calif., went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored, while Zucchiatti, a junior from Millbrae, Calif., was 3-of-4 with two RBIs and two runs. Riggs, a freshman from Binger, Okla., was 1-for-3 with three RBIs.

NAIA Championship Opening Round
Oklahoma City Bracket
At Oklahoma City
Ann Lacy Stadium
Monday's Results
Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 4, Morningside (Iowa) 2
Oklahoma City 9, Friends (Kan.) 0
Tuesday's Results
Oklahoma City 8, Olivet Nazarene 3
Morningside 4, Friends 0, Friends eliminated
Olivet Nazarene 5, Morningside 0, Morningside eliminated
Wednesday's Result
Championship
Oklahoma City 16, Olivet Nazarene 2